Malawians remember Bingu, presidential aide asks for statue

President Peter Mutharika on Saturday led the nation in remembering former head of state Bingu wa Mutharika in Thyolo with Archbishop of Blantyre Diocese Thomas Msusa describing him as the great gift God gave to Malawi.

Thousands of Malawians including ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) faithful and government officials at his village, Kamoto Village in Chief Chimaliro area in Thyolo.

Those who spoke at the memorial service spoke highly of the fallen president, emphasizing that Malawians never starved during his rule.

President Peter Mutharika listened attentively as Arthur Peter Masamba, representing the family, Ecklen Kudontoni, DPP secretary General and Francis Mphepo, chief advisor to the president on political affairs articulated how Bingu turned Malawi into a breadbasket.

They also lined up major development programmes which the former president accomplished during his eight year rule before he died on April 5, 2012.

Msusa said Bingu was a great leader, that is why he managed to accomplish most development programmes he had planned within a shirt period of time.

“Bingu was a great gift of the nation. He said let works of my hands bear me witness and the works did bvear him witness indeed,” said the archbishop.

Presidential aide Francis Mphepo asked the government to have a statue of the former head of state.

“If the government has no money, we can raise the money from well wishers so that we erect the statue,” he said.

Politicians who spoke at the service avoided attacking opposition leaders as was the case last year and instead praised the fallen leader for his love for Malawi.

In an interview with the state controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, former First Lady Callista Mutharika described Mutharika as an extraordinary leader.

“I have read numerous books of extraordinary leaders, it was good to live with an extraordinary leader. He always planned his day carefully and he wanted me to do the same,” said Callista.

She said Bingu loved his family, his relatives and his country.

Arthur Masamba, who represented Bingu’s family, said it was sad that Bingu died a sudden death in his eighth year as President.

He said it was a death people did not, and still do not understand.

People that laid wreaths at Mpumulo wa Bata included, Callista; his children, his brother Peter, new Agriculture minister George Chaponda, Archbishop Msusa and Bishop Musikuwa, Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Samuel Tembenu and Thyolo East legislator Gerson Solomoni.

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